A day in the life of a RUCker

The builders have been on their Easter break for two weeks now so the only work that’s been done on the RUC has been done by me. I’ve scrubbed the walls (inside and out ready for painting) and sanded the front door that had six coats of paint over the beautiful oak. In fact, it had so much paint on it that I didn’t realise what intricate beading it had until I got down to the third coat. I sanded the French doors which was easier because they haven’t been painted, and I’ve also started sanding the balustrade for painting. I’ve smashed down the old wall where the wasp lead me to the writing and I’ve started cleaning the ceiling.

I haven’t done any work on my WIPs. My characters keep calling out to me in the middle of the night, but I just roll over, jot down what they say and then drift off to snoredom.

There is a good side and a bad side to all this work I’m doing. On the good side I’ve lost weight and gained some muscle. On the bad side I’ve got a sore back and am usually asleep by 6:30 every night.

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I’m exhausting just reading all of the work you’ve been doing, Dianne! I’m surprised you’re able to stay awake until 6:30. One day, when all of the work is complete, you’ll be able to put your feet up and just write. 🙂

I know /exactly/ how you feel. 🙂 Moving is stressful. New domiciles are stressful. Eventually, you’ll be all moved in with much of the work behind you. Won’t that be terrific? In the meantime, the characters can wait their turn. I know mine are being far more patient than I expected.

It’s been one week and things are slowly improving. The bathroom has been re-tiled and today that wile was grouted. The toilet seat, which was gross beyond words, has been replaced. The new kitchen counter got an end piece this morning. Little by little, things are being put in their proper (new) place.

Wow, do all builders in Australia get two weeks off for Easter?? That’s startling. Good for you for tackling your own projects. However, you have exhuasted me and I must rush to my refrigerator to grab a cold beer and race to the rocker on my front porch to contemplate how tired you are. 🙂

When I moved to Two Rock this house rental had a fireplace that had been painted over, brick? tile? who could tell. With the landlord’s permission I attacked it with a hot air gun (my preference over sanding) and in only a hundred hours or so, I revealed a stunning arts and crafts era tile fireplace, with a neo-gothic knights-in-armor theme. I hurt like hell, but it was sooooo worth it. I’m completely jealous over your project. You’ve inspired me to consider my own life-altering, moving and building options.

I’ve just discovered the hot air gun! How good is it?! It took me four days to get the paint off one side of the door with stripper and one day to get it off the other side with the hot air gun. I’m certainly a fan 😀

Your fireplace sounds absolutely fantastic. It makes you feel so good when you finish a project like that! 😀

A normal person would be envious of your hot bod, I’m just envious of your timber work! If you can get Arnica & Aspirin rub, or just Arnica it helps muscles cope, and also a hot wheat bag for the really sore spots… and a hot bath and a few glasses of wine when possible 🙂

Great photo, haha. 🙂 You’re a hard worker, Dianne, and this will pay off for you in so many ways. And even while you’re working you have time to keep a link to your characters. That’s fantastic. Sometimes the physical work can help the mental work as different parts of the brain flex and grow new neurons. 🙂

Well said, Justin. It’s strange that the more physical work I do the more clearer my mind becomes. I’ve been thinking a lot about writing recently and my characters are really pushing their way to the surface (muscling in on the other work I have to do) 😉

Uhh, I hate to break it to you, Dianne, but all that sanding has given you an extra Y chromosome. I think I see an adam’s apple and something else hiding in those speedos. haha.
The most important lesson I learned from this post is to keep a pad of paper next to my bed to jot down notes in the middle of the night.
Can’t wait to see the photos of that oak door. {{{hugs}}} Kozo

This was a lotta fun and that image…hilarious! I love that you’re working to get the RUC back to a natural look – six layers of paint?! I know that feeling of going to bed early with a very real and physical tiredness…but it’s a very satisfying feeling too, right? So when are those builders of yours back? Monday?

I hope so, Anna 😀 I love taking things back to thier original condition. When I scraped some paint off that front door I just had to get ALL the paint off 😉 I’ve also scraped some of the paint off the interier walls and I’m going to paint them thier original colour which is Spanish cream 😀

Wow! I have noticed a change in you. What big muscles you have. (All the better to smash you with…said the Big bad Wolf). Oh, and I’m half way through the Everything Theory and really enjoying it. The mystery and suspense is killing me.

I haven’t tried any painkillers yet, Amy – but they’re in the cupboard in case of emergencies 😉 However, I have gone through a lot of band-aids 😦 splinters and cuts (I haven’t been as clumsy as usual, but clumsy none-the-less) 😉

Thanks, Janna 😉 I’m (trying to) take a bit of a break from the manual labour today but I keep thinking I should head over and do some more sanding lol 😀 Instead I’m doing some banking and filing (boring, but long overdue!) 😀

And if that is what going sanding crazy does for you … *runs to the store to buy sand paper a plenty and decides to place them in strategic peoples mail box* … errr…. when someone gets hunky they also lose their shirts too correct? *smirkles*

Hahah! That’s a big change. That’s great that your characters are calling out to you – I’m sure they’ll have lots to say once you can sit down again – or can you sit down with all those muscles in the way?

Holy crud – you look….beautiful darling! That is a fantastic photo and I am really lucky I didn’t spray tea all over my monitor 🙂
Ugh, sanding. That is not a favorite of mine, hope you are wearing gloves! But it would make it a whole lot more exiting to find beading as you get closer to the wood. You are like an archeologist or a psychologist peeling away the layers…

What a lot of work you’ve done, Dianne. I’m really impressed with your stunning physique! It must be so rewarding to see the results of all your efforts though. I’m glad to see that you’ve been wearing that towel to protect your hair from all the dust. 😀

LOL – maybe I should wrap the towel around my face as well 😉 I’m so glad you’re impressed with the ‘new me’! 😀
I’ve taken two days off and will be back into it again today (I don’t want those muscles to turn to jelly) 😉

hahaha That was a quick change. Now I’m afraid to start doing some of the painting we have around here. I mean, am I going to …. It seems like you got a little more than you bargained for in the muscle department. I’m not crazy about flab, but how can I say this gently without hurting your feelings? I really liked your old look better on you! At least you still have your head on straight! Now, back to my flabby tummy. Sit – ups 1, ugh, 2, ugh, 3, uuuuuugh, 4 flop. BTW sit-ups are great for the back. Almost as good as acupuncture. 🙂 Good luck with all your remodeling (even your own – if that’s really the look you are going for!) 😀

LOL! Is my head crooked? Do’h! As you can see I’m not nearly as proficient at altering photos as some other very clever bloggers (no naming names here) 😉 I just did it in Paint and that was hard enough for me! Next time I feel like changing my ‘look’ I might get you to do it 😯

I’m feeling more ‘myself’ since I posted this and I think I’m back to normal now (tummy flab and all) lol 😀

I wasn’t thinking about your head – that part I like! It was the sex change that you had so suddenly. You must have had a gigantic blast of Paintshop hormones! 🙂 That’s still one of my favorite head shots ever – of anyone! LOL I love it! 🙂

What is it with characters coming to life when you’re trying to get some kip? Not sure about the new look by the way, perhaps you could try natural supplements for your future sanding workouts? No ‘roid rage!

Dianne,
I don’t know when and/or why it happened but somehow my incoming blog posts got thrown into ‘spam’ – so you’re likely going to see a lot of tweets showing up from this point up to current day, May 8. (Just discovered this afternoon – was wondering why I had not been receiving from you and others some posts I normally get!! Tough thing to happen to a guy that’s already handicapped in this digital world!! Just wanted you to know I still luv ya!

Don’t worry, Billy Ray – this happens to me as well and I find all kinds of post from regular bloggers in my spam. I guess it must just pick up keywords (or something). Best of luck going through them! 😀

It’s kinda weird though how we react to hard physical work, when used mostly to intellectual efforts… April was really a difficult month for me — and i was looking at myself as from aside, i am so unused to hard physical stuff (weight lifting doesn’t count), but i liked it, i think it’s good from time to time to make some switches… (it’s only that i don’t really feel when i should stop, so often end up exhausted and injured, but never mind, that shall pass too ;))